A study in mice shows that the drug can promote the growth of myelin,
a fatty substance found in protective layers around many nerves throughout
the body. In multiple sclerosis, the myelin sheath around nerves is lost,
and this is thought to contribute to the symptoms of the disease, which
include weakness, blurred vision, fatigue, poor balance and paralysis.

"These results have to be confirmed in animal tests, but this strategy
is certainly very promising," said study senior author Dr. Catherine Lubetzki
of the Universit Pierre et Marie Curie, in Paris, France. The findings
are published in the journal Neurology.

In their study, Lubetzki and her colleagues examined the effect of the
experimental drug eliprodil on mouse brain cells grown in laboratory culture.

The authors explain that 'neuroprotective' agents like eliprodil stimulate
signaling between nerve cells. Because "neuronal signals appear to be
mandatory for myelination (the growth of new myelin sheathing)," they
speculated that eliprodil might increase myelinization rates in mouse brain
cells.

That theory seems to be supported by the results of the study. The authors
report that "eliprodil induced a two-fold increase in myelination" during
laboratory tests.

The researchers stress, however, that the drug is only able to repair
damage -- it cannot stop the loss of myelin that characterizes multiple
sclerosis. "(We) obviously must discover how to stop the process that causes
demyelination," Lubetzki explained. But she added that "it may be that
this new strategy could limit the progression of the disease."

Eliprodil is not yet commercially available, and the results of these
early studies must be repeated in animal trials before scientists can draw
any firm conclusions regarding the drug's effectiveness.

The study was supported in part by Syntholabe Recherche, the French
manufacturers of eliprodil.

Multiple sclerosis affects over 300,000 Americans. The cause of the
disease is still unknown.